A reader says, “I have invested in equity mutual funds for the last two years. Should I also invest in stocks?” This is a question that only the investor can answer, but we can provide some guidelines. Why do you want to invest in stocks? Is it because you heard multibagger stories on social media…

We discuss how investors can overcome analysis paralysis and confidently make investment decisions. Analysis paralysis is a frequently encountered issue in managing personal finances, impacting individuals in distinct ways. As an illustration, I can swiftly select a mutual fund and invest a substantial amount within 10 minutes. However, when choosing a health insurance policy, I…

For most of us, buying a house – defined here as a primary residence meant for immediate self-occupation – is an emotional decision. There is nothing wrong with that. However, there is no free lunch. To get something, we have to lose something. What is the true cost of buying a house? How many of…

A reader asks, “I’m looking to retire at 45 and currently, at 28 years old, my monthly expenses amount to around Rs. 40,000. Since I have just begun working, my net worth is currently negligible. I would like to know the approximate investment amount required to achieve my goal. It’s worth mentioning that I don’t…

A reader sent us the following question.  “I’m an aspiring DIY investor and frequently read your posts on freefincal. I have also attended the goal-based learning tutorials on freefincal and found them very useful”. “Most of the analysis and approach I have read is on systematic investment planning. My question is, “How to plan, monitor…

Over the years, many readers have asked us, “can I use X or Y investment for an emergency fund?”. Therefore it may be useful to list all such eligible investments and discuss which is suitable for whom. Perhaps if you have just started your career and your net worth is low, the following statement may…

A reader asks, “How can I calculate my safe withdrawal rate when I retire 25 years from now? I am 30”. What does the term “safe withdrawal rate” mean? The safe withdrawal rate, or SWR, refers to the amount of money that can be withdrawn annually from a retirement fund in the first year of…

Many young earners ask themselves, “What percentage of my salary should I invest monthly? Would 10% suffice, or should it be 20%?” They typically seek a quick and easy way to determine if they’re on the right path and to alleviate any guilt associated with their spending habits. Regrettably, this is one of several flawed…

A Financial Health Check Tool developed by M. Pattabiraman is now available at SEBI’s Investor Education Portal. A prototype was tested in Jan 2023 with members of the Facebook group Asan Ideas for Wealth, and their feedback was implemented. Later, the SEBI Investor Protection Education Fund Advisory Committee gave further feedback, and the tool has…

In this article, we consider non-financial aspects of planning for our children’s future. We have already covered the basics of how to be financially ready for college expenses. We shall limit ourselves to “doing well” in school and college although there is ample overlap with all walks of life. Many people have the incorrect opinion…

By now, everyone knows the drill. For a long term goal, you can have 50-60% of equity exposure (preferably in an index fund) and the rest in fixed income. Get set, go. Sadly, the race has just begun, and there are plenty of pit stops to worry about. The number of people who care about…

A reader says, “My income is quite low. Is there any hope for me? How do I go about creating a retirement corpus?” The rules of personal finance are the same regardless of income and net worth. Those earning less feel like they will never have the experiences or wealth of those who earn more….